No one takes bid for old Citizens Bank building

JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) - The tallest building in Downtown Jonesboro remains without a proper owner.

The old Citizens Bank building went up for auction Wednesday for back taxes.

The State of Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands Department held a public auction at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Craighead County Courthouse Annex.

Brent Hooten read off bid number 3025 to open the bidding process.

The minimum bid was $41,855.22 to cover the back taxes owed to the state.

When the bidding opened, no bid was given and the auction moved on to the next item.

Several who attended the auction said they were surprised no one took a bid.

Regardless, people in Jonesboro still have ideas on what they would like to see done with it.

"It would be really cool if it was like the Dickson Street Inn in Fayetteville with like a luxury hotel and a pub and a restaurant in it," said Skylar Fisher, a downtown resident. "I think that would bring a lot of life to Downtown and bring more activity down here."

Some other ideas mentioned were condos, a hotel, expanding the Foundation of Arts into the property or tearing it down completely.

Since the building didn't get a bid, the owner still has 30 days to claim it from the state, but after 30 days it will be put up for post auction where the public can make bids again.